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          Nikola Jokic, Russell Wilson praise DJ Burns Jr. and NC State

          • ESPN staffApr 1, 2024, 02:28 AM

          The No. 11 seed NC State Wolfpack shocked the college basketball world Sunday when they upset the No. 4 seed Duke Blue Devils in an Elite Eight matchup.

          Senior forward DJ Burns Jr. scored a season-high 29 points to help send the Wolfpack to the Final Four for the first time since their 1983 national title victory.

          Burns trolled the Blue Devils after the game with a post on his Instagram story -- using a clip of him finding guard DJ Horne for a clutch 3-pointer late in the game as well as a clip from one of Blue Devils guard Jared McCain's TikToks.

          Even Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic chimed in on the upset, giving high praise to Burns.

          "I think he's so skilled, especially lefty," Jokic said during his postgame news conference. "Seems like teammates like to play with him. That'd be a good guy."

          Reactions from the sports world

          The Wolfpack received numerous shoutouts following their 76-64 victory, including from Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.

          Wolfpack weigh in

          Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson and Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines, who played for NC State in 2007-10 and 2015-17, respectively, showed their Wolfpack pride.

          Additionally, NC State's women's team gave the men's squad a shoutout while preparing for its own Final Four matchup in Cleveland.